BMW Museum a must-see in Munich

The 1956 BMW 507 roadster is generally regarded as one of the best designed and engineered sports cars of all time.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, handout

The first BMW car introduced in 1929 was basically an Austin Seven that was built under license from the British manufacturer. It was very reliable and popular in Europe.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, handout

This 1939 BMW 328 won the two litre class at the famed Le Mans race helping to establish the manufacturers reputation in car racing.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, handout

The 1939 BMW 335 model is the company’s first luxury sedan nicknamed the Autobahn for its ability to travel at 100 miles per hour.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, handout

The 1954 BMW 502 featured a V8 engine and was known as Europe’s fastest sedan.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, handout

This 1930 BMW 3/15 PS roadster is a meticulously restored example of the company’s first sports car. It was manufactured under license from Austin of England.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, handout

BMW's museum has been renovated and expanded.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, CNS

BMW's museum has been renovated and expanded.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, CNS

BMW's museum has been renovated and expanded.

PHOTO: Alyn Edwards, CNS

Completely renovated, expanded

By Alyn Edwards, Canwest News Service

Originally published: October 16, 2009

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There are two great things to do in Munich every Fall — attend the biggest party on earth, Oktoberfest — and tour the BMW Museum.

I’ve just returned from Germany and I’m pleased to say I partied and found time to visit the museum, which, for classic car enthusiasts, is a wonderful attraction.

Originally constructed as a giant bowllike structure in 1973, the museum has undergone a complete renovation and expansion. It took five years to complete and increased the display space by five times, reopening in June 2008. Guests enter the museum through a stainless steel and glass mega lobby filled with the BMW 3 series cars that are manufactured in the sprawling car factory next door.

The tour through the museum illustrates the company’s beginnings as an aircraft engine designer and builder 90 years ago and its progression to building motorcycles and cars. Today, BMW’s Munich headquarters is adjacent to the 1972 Olympic grounds with the city all around it.

Originally, BMW had its own airport on the large site now occupied by the museum, BMW’s world headquarters and the factory. The first car BMW offered for sale to the public beginning in 1929 was basically a tiny four-passenger Austin Seven that was built under license to the British manufacturer. This car had four wheel brakes and developed a reputation for reliability. In 1930, BMW offered its first sports roadster, which was also produced under license from Austin.

It didn’t take long for BMW to start manufacturing its own design of cars with the double kidney shaped grille treatment and gaining international attention with racing wins. The vintage cars on display include the 1939 BMW 328 that won the two-litre class at the famed Le Mans race of that year. Another 1939 model on display is a BMW 335 model; the company’s first luxury sedan nicknamed the Autobahn for its ability to travel at 100 miles per hour. The 1954 BMW 502 model on display has a V8 engine and was known as Europe’s fastest sedan.

The star of the many BMW sports cars on display is a gunmetal gray 1956 BMW 507 roadster powered by a V8 engine with a four-speed manual transmission. This car could travel at speeds up to 220 kilometres per hour and is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful sports cars of all time.

Almost all of these cars have survived and many are found in private collections. The tour through the BMW Museum takes between one and two hours. The displays of vintage cars and motorcycles are well laid out on various floor levels. The information is presented clearly and is not overwhelming.

A two-and-a-half-hour tour of the BMW factory that starts in the same location is also well worth the time. Participants in the twice-daily tours see the panel stamping plant, crews of robots building bodies by assembling and welding panels, a multi-floor assembly line for sedans and touring class cars that is more than three kilometers long and the final testing of the completed cars.

The BMW Museum is open every day but Monday. The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekend. The cost is 12 euros for adults, approximately $18 Canadian. This is money well spent.

Alyn Edwards is a partner in Peak Communicators, a Vancouver-based public relations firm.